Five things to watch at NCAA track and field West Preliminary in Lawrence

The NCAA West Preliminary runs Thursday through Saturday at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence. The event will include track and field athletes from the 121 Division I schools west of the Mississippi River who rank top 48 in their respective events. The top 12 athletes and relays advance to the NCAA Championships on June 8-11 in Eugene, Oregon.

Here are five things to watch for:

1. Steep competition

A pair of local steeplechase runners should be a main attraction starting at 8:50 p.m. Friday. New Mexico’s Courtney Frerichs — a Nixa, Mo., native and former UMKC runner — has the top time in the region by more than 18 seconds and also is a 2016 Olympics hopeful. Meanwhile, UMKC’s Bryce Miller has the second-best region time in the men’s event at 8:38.59.

2. Top leaper

Kansas State’s Kim Williamson won her second straight Big 12 high jump title two weeks ago with a region-best leap of 6 feet, 1.5 inches. After finishing second in the nation last year, Williamson will look to earn her spot in the NCAA Championships once again at 5 p.m. Friday.

3. KU star

Kansas’ Mitch Cooper will be continuing his pursuit of a national championship in the discus at 4 p.m. Friday after winning a Big 12 title in his last meet. The Australian’s seed mark of 205 feet, 3 inches is best in the region.

4. Fast Tigers

Missouri will have two of the region’s fastest runners during the 100- and 400-meter races that take place Thursday and Friday. Kahmari Montgomery ranks second in the region in the 400 (45.13 seconds), while Markesh Woodson is third in the 100 (10.13 seconds). Kansas State’s Terrell Smith also is someone to watch in the 200, as he posted the second-fastest seed time (20.44).

5. Pole position

After a 1-2 finish at the Big 12 meet two weeks ago, KU’s Jake Albright and Nick Meyer will look to advance to the NCAAs after posting top-five marks in the region. Missouri’s Matthew Ludwig is right behind with a sixth-place seed mark for the 4:30 event Thursday.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Five things to watch at NCAA track and field West Preliminary in Lawrence."